You Turn it For Good | Pain & Doubt | Week 2
You Turn It For Good: Understanding God’s Plan in Pain and Doubt
Life often brings seasons of struggle, pain, and doubt. As believers, it is natural to ask God why difficult things happen and how we should respond when they do. In the second week of our series Pain & Doubt, the focus is on the truth that You Turn It For Good—God has the power to take what the enemy meant for harm and transform it for His glory.
Trusting God’s Perspective
One of the most difficult aspects of faith is trusting in God’s plan when life does not make sense. Many people fall into the trap of thinking they know what is best for their own lives, but Scripture teaches that God’s wisdom surpasses human understanding.
In Job 42:1-6, Job finally understands the greatness of God’s plan:
I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted… Surely, I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
Just like Job, believers are often tempted to believe that their personal plans are best. However, You Turn It For Good reminds us that when we surrender our plans to God, He leads us into something greater than we could ever imagine.
God’s Sovereignty in Our Pain
Pain and suffering are inevitable in a fallen world, but they do not mean that God is absent. Jesus demonstrated this in John 11 when He delayed His visit to His friend Lazarus, allowing him to die before miraculously raising him from the dead. This delay was not an act of neglect, but a demonstration of God’s power at work.
John 11:25-26 says
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?
When believers experience loss or hardship, they must remember that even in suffering, You Turn It For Good. God is actively working behind the scenes to fulfill His divine purpose.
God’s Ability to Redeem All Things
Romans 8:28 states:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
This verse is a powerful reminder that nothing is wasted in God’s economy. Even when situations seem irredeemable, God is at work, using every challenge to strengthen faith and bring about His greater plan. You Turn It For Good means that no matter how dark the situation, God’s light can shine through and transform it.
Shifting Perspective: From Blame to Trust
A natural response to hardship is to ask, “Whose fault is this?” Many people blame God for their pain, but the Bible teaches that sin and the brokenness of the world are the true sources of suffering. Rather than dwelling on blame, believers are called to trust in God’s ability to redeem every situation.
Genesis 50:20 echoes this truth:
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
God has the power to take even the worst circumstances and use them for His glory. You Turn It For Good reminds us that God is always working on our behalf, even when we cannot see it.
Walking in Faith Despite Uncertainty
Faith is not about having all the answers; it is about trusting God even when the answers are unclear. When the disciples witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus, they saw firsthand that God’s timing and plans are greater than human understanding. The challenge for believers today is to hold onto faith even in the middle of their own unanswered questions.
2 Corinthians 5:7 says
For we live by faith, not by sight.
Living by faith means trusting that You Turn It For Good—that no matter what challenges arise, God’s power is at work, leading His people to ultimate victory.
A Call to Surrender and Trust
Surrendering to God’s plan is not always easy, but it is the path to peace. Just as Patrick Mahomes listens intently to his coach for guidance in a game, believers must tune out the distractions of the world and listen for God’s direction.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
The lesson of this message is clear: when believers face trials, they must resist the urge to take control and instead trust that You Turn It For Good. God’s plans are always higher, His wisdom is always greater, and His love is always constant.
Living in the Hope of God’s Victory
The ultimate promise for believers is that God will one day defeat pain and death completely. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 15:26:
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Until that day, believers must hold onto the promise that You Turn It For Good—that even in the midst of life’s struggles, God is working for a greater purpose.
This week, as you reflect on your own struggles, remember that God is sovereign, He is near, and He is actively turning all things for good. Trust Him, listen to Him, and allow Him to use every part of your story for His glory.
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